Boat construction.



P. B. LANGSTON.

, BQAT CONSTRUCTION.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17. 1907. Y i 1003364, Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

' f 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESS lfb ATTORNE Y F. B. LANGSTON.' BOAT CONSTRUCTION. nrmonlon FILEDAUG'. 1'1. 1907.

Patented sept. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi i.

ITIVESSES-V FREDRICK LANGSTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOAT CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented Sept. 12, 1911. y

Application led August 17, 1907. Serial No. 388,940.

To all whom it may concern: i' Be it known that I, FRnnERIoK-B. LANG-sToN, a citizen of the Unlted States, and a.

resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county .as canal boats, and fastmoving craft, such as motor boats and the like.

More specifically it is thev object of this invention to provide meansfor confining gas so as to provide a layer of gas of material thicknessbeneath a supporting surface for a. boat, so that the supporting surfaceis held up out of contact with the water and,

so that the confined layer of gas, which is in direct contact with thewater, will serve efficiently as an intermediate lubricating medium dueto its low viscosity.

It is also an object of the invention so to construct the watercontacting parts of the `boat that they will cooperate effectively withthe confined layer of gas to reduce-the resistance of the water to theprogress of the boat and to utilize the reaction from the water againstthe moving water-contacting vparts automatically to prevent lateraltilting such as rocking. The furtherance of this object is contemplatedby eliminating or minimizing all .water-plowing orlaterallywater-displacing surfaces and substitut-ing in their placewater-skidding surfaces having only downward and forward reactionagainst the water when sliding or skidding over its surface.

To these ends the provisions of means for forming one or more chambersqeach for holding and confining in all lateral directions a layer of airof material thickness beneat-h the surface ofthe boat is contemplated.In the embodiment of such means a plurality of forward and aft extendingparallel keel-like partition plates together with fore and aft-crossclosures are contemplated to confine the gas under flat supportingsurfaces.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for the maintenance ofa body of gas within the chamber iinderthe supporting surface orsurfaces.

The means by which the above and further objects of the invention areattained will be apparent from the following description, when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out inthe appended claims.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings which form part ofthis application, in which like numerals designate corresponding partsin the several tigures, and in which,.-

Figure l is a fore and aft sectional elevation of a boat embodyingfeatures of this invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the boatshown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation taken through line 3-3of Fig. 1 and looking'in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is asimilar view to Fig. l but showing a modified construction; Fig. 5 is abottom plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is asectional elevation taken through line 6 6 of Fig. 4 and looking in thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalelevation showing an aft skidding member; Fig. 8 is an end elvation ofthe parts shown in Fig. 7 but with the middle portion broken away; Fig.9 is a detail section showing the fore closure of the means closedposition.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and more particularly toFigs. l, 2 and 3,-1 designates a `hull which is vprovided with a portionhaving an under-supfor confining in porting surface 2. This portion maybe a part of the hull or may be suitably secured thereto in anyconvenient manner. It is preferableI that this surface 2 be horizontalwhen the boat l is in normal position. Parallel side plates areillustrated extending fore and` aft throughout the length of the hull.These partition plates are depressed below. the supporting surface 2,are indicated by numerals 3 and 4 and are co-cxtensive in length withthe length of the supporting surface 2. A' fore-cross-closure 5 crossconnects the side plates. An aft-crossclosure 6 also cross-connects thepartitionplates. A rectangular caisson-like chamber '7' is completed bythe partition-plates and the foreand aft-cross-closures. This chamber isdesigned to retain ya layer of ysuitable gas such as air, such layerbeing ofmaterial thickness, between the supporting surface-2 and theunderlying water 8. Thus, the side# plates and the cross-closurestogether .constitute means for confining in all lateral -directions alayer of gas of material thickness beneath the supporting surface.

Means for forcing'a4 supply of such gas into the chamber 7 1s shown inthe form of the pump 9and the reservoir for compressed gas l() which isconnected with the pump -through the valve 11. The tank' l0 dischargesinto the chamber 7 by means of the supporting sur ace 2. The lowersurface of this water-skidding member is shown curved but it is to beunderstood that the invention contemplates broadly a fore-water-skiddingmember, every cross section through the under surface yof which memberis a horizontal straight line. This featurein connection with theunder-surface of the foreskidding plane 14 may be described otherwise bystating that this under-surface is cylindrical, (the word cylindricalbeing used in its broad geometric sense) and every element of thiscylindrical surface is a hori-4 zontal straight line.

In the drawings the side plates 3 and 4 are shown res ectively havingportions 17 and 18 extending below the'lower edge of thefore-cross-closure 5 and continuing into portions 15. and 16 extendingforwardly along and depressed below the under surface of thefore-skidding member 14. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, these foreandaftextending portions 15, 16, 17 and 18 extend downwardly below thelower surface of the layer of air in chamber 7 and below they: watercontacting face of the fore-skiddingf. member 14. By this location theyserve as* keels to steady the progress of the boat.4

The junction between the .under-sur face 19 of the aft cross-closure 6andthe supporting surface 2 is suitably sealed as by the flexible flap21 shown in the drawings as covering the hinge 20 securing the member 6to. the hull. The under surface 19 of member 6 is shown flat throughouta 'considerable extent and at its eXtreme aft portion, curved. Like theunder surface of 'the fore skidding member'14, every cross sectionthrough this undersurface 19 of the aft s'kidding member 6 is ahorizontal straight line.

n Onepurpose for this formation of the under surface of the waterskidding mem- Lbers' is top rovide stability-for the boat construction.-Any rocking of the boat tends to depressl one side or the other of theseskidding members more than the other side, causin a greater immersion onthe side depresse There is consequently a 'greater upward re-action fromthe impact of the water due to the progress of t-he boat on the sideimmersed the greater amount, which tends automatically to lright theboat. i

The aft skidding me'nber 6 is shown provided with keeltplates 23 'and 24which form substantially continuations of the side plates 3 and 4; Theaft skidding member 6 is provided with means for adjusting this angularposition about the hinge 20. This means is indicated by the numeral 22and shown in the form of a screw, the adjustment of which may be readfrom the scale 25. The steering of the boat may be accomplished in anysuitable manner as by means of the rudder 26 and its coperatingmanipulating mechanism. i

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 modications are shown especially adaptingthe invention to its embodiment in motor boats. The parts hearingsimilar reference characters in these 'figures are the same as thosereviously described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In addition itshould be noted that a suitable source of power shown in the' form of acombustion motor'27 is provided for driving the propeller 28 through themedium of the propeller shaft 30, the propeller being protected by meansof the guard 35. The propeller shaft 30 is extended forwardly throughthe clutch 29 to a modification of the pump 9 and specifically to ablower 9', which communicates with the reservoir 10 formed as a bulkhead in the fore parts of the boat. The air intake for the blower 9 isindicated by 31 and is directed forwardly. This intakel may be sealed bymeans of the valve 32, which is 110 serviceable in case of accident orwhen the motor 27 is not operating, to provide buoyancy for the boatstructure." In this embodiment a part of the fore cross closure is:formed by means of a cross partition or 115 valve 5 hinged to the boatstructure by the hinge 33 and provided with a spring 34 tending to holdthis valve closed, but ylelding against the blast of air delivered bythe blower'9 and directed aftwardly into the 120 chamber 7.

During the progress of the boat the layer of air between the supportingsurface 2 is of such thickness as to constitute a real layeroffma'terial thickness which by reason 125 of its low viscosity allowsthe supporting surface or surfaces of the boat structure to pass overthe under-lying surface of the water 8 entirely without cohesion betweenthe water and the supporting surfaces and 130 in such a manner that theI'elative'movement between these surfaces 1s retarded merelyby the lowviscosity of the layer of air.

aftwardly escaping air serves to lubricate the aft skidding member 6 andnecessitates continual air 1n chamber 7. This 1s accomplished by meansof the blower 9 the".

aftwardly directed blast from which, by reaction against the underlyingwater 8, aids, in a degree, in forwardly propelling the boat structure.

In connection with slow moving craft such as that illustrated in Figs.1, 2, and 3 the renewal of air for the chamber 7 is not of so greatnecessityl as is the case with high speed craft and in some cases it isnecessary to supply renewals merely sufficient to supply the leakagethrough the parts forming the walls of the chamber 7.

It is to be understood that the illustrations of the embodiment of thisinvention are diagrammatic in a largedegree and that it is contemplatedthat approved modern boat construction be employed in the embodiment ofthe various parts.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured-"by United StatesLetters Patent 1s:-

l. In a boat construct-ion, a hull having an under supporting surface; aplurality of parallel, fore-extending side plates projecting beneathsaid supporting surface; an upwardly inclined fore skidding-member withits rear lower edge depressed below said supporting surface andcross-connecting said side plates; and an aft skiddingev member with itsunder surface inclined aftwardly and downwardly from said supportingsurface andcroIss-connecting said side plates, every cross sectionthrough the under surfaces of both said skidding-members being ahorizontal straight line.

2. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a substantiallyrectangular supporting surface; means forming a chamberand for confiningin all lateral directions a layer of air of material thickness beneathsaid surface, said means comprising parallel side plates and foreandaftcross-closures; said aft-cross-elosure being formed by a downwardlyand ,rearwardly extending water-vskidding-member a forewatersskiddingmember extending forwardly and upwardly from the loweredge of said fore-crossclosure, every cross section through the undersurfaces of both said water-skidding-members being a horizontal straightline; and means for forcing gas into the chamber formed by said meansfor confining. A

3. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a substantiallyrectangular supporting surface; means forming a chamber and forconfining in all lateral directions a layer of air of material thicknessbeneath said surface, said means comprising parallel side plates andforeand aft-cross.-closures; -said aft-cross-closurc being formed by' aVdownwardly and rearwardly extending water -skidding-member; a forewaterskiddng-member extending forwardly and -upwardly from the loweredge of said fore-cross-closure, every cross section through the undersurfaces of both Said water-skidding-n'lembers being a horizontalstraight line; parallel keel portions projecting downwardly from' bothwater-skiddingmembers and from the said side plates and below the saidlayer of air; propelling means for the boat; and means for forcing gasinto the chamber formed by said means Afor confining.'

4. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a substantiallyrectangular supporting surface; means for forming a chamber and forconfining in all lateral directions a layer of air o-f materialthickness beneath said surface, said means comprising parallel sideplates and foreand aft-crossclosures; said aft-cross-closure beingformed by a downwardly and rearwardly extending adjustablewater-skidding-member; a -fore water-skidding1nember extending forwardlyand upwardly from the lower edge of said fore-cross-closure, every crosssection through the .under surfaces of both said water-skid ding-membersbeing a horizontal straight line; and means for Aforcing gas into the'chamber within said means for confining.

5. A boat construction comprising, a porsupporting surface; means forforming a v.Chamber for-conf`ming in all lateral directions a layer ofair of material thickness beneath said surface, said means comprisingparallel side plates and foreand aft-crossclosures.; saidaft-crcss-closure being formed by a downwardly and rearwardly extendingadjustable water-skidding-member; a fore water skidding-nember extendingforwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of said fore-cross-closure,every cross section through the under surfaces of both said water-skid-vline; parallel keel portions projecting downwardly from bothwater-skidding-members and from the said side plates and below the saidlayer of air; propelling means for the chamber within said means forconfining.

6. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a supportingsurface 2; a4

'tion providing a substantially.rectangular ding-members being ahorizontal straight.

boat; and means for forcing gas into the '.fore water-skidding-member14; means for confining in all lateral directlons a, layer of nirvwithin the chamber 7, said means comprising parallel side plates 3 and4, aftcross-closure in the form of the adjustable water skidding-member19, land a fore-crossclosure' 5 forming a valve; means 22 for adjustingthe inclination of the water-skid# dingTmember 19; a motor 27; a.propeller 28;

und an air blower 9 for forcing an aftwardly directed stream of air intothe chamber 7 Y v l 7. A boat construction comprising, a portionproviding a supporting .surface 2; a

fore water-skidding-member 14; means for confining inv all lateraldirections a4 layer .of air Within the chamber. 7, said means comprisinparallel side plates 3 and 4, an

fore closure 5 forming a1 valve; keel por' tions 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, and24; means 22 for vadjusting the inclination of the Water-skidding-member19; a motor 27; a, propeller 28; and an air blower 9 for forcing an aft-W'ardly `directed `stream of air into the chamber 7.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 11a-me to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' FREDERICK B. LANGSTON.

Witnesses:

IDA G. GiLMoRE, BEATRICE Mmvis.

